UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Wednesday the announcement at the six-party talks in Beijing on the next phase of the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

    In a statement released by his spokesperson, Ban said the announcement "stipulates important measures and steps aimed at implementing the provisions of the agreement reached in February this year."

    The secretary-general said he is encouraged by this important step forward in multilateral diplomatic efforts towards a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

    "Given the vital importance of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, these efforts deserve strong support from the international community in order to maintain the current momentum," he said.

    Ban encouraged all the parties concerned to step up their work for denuclearization as well as peace and security in the region, and to enhance mutual trust among them.

    The second session of the sixth round of six-party talks ended Wednesday with a joint document released on the second-phase actions toward the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.